19 October 2024
Juve returned to winning ways, beating Lazio thanks to a late winner at the Allianz Stadium after a hard-fought game in which the Bianconeri always looked a threat.
THE FIRST HALF
The match began at a slow tempo: Lazio tried to retain possession and get into the Bianconeri's half in the first few minutes, but didn't cause any problems for Michele Di Gregorio.
The first half chance fell to Juve in the sixth minute when Khephren Thuram drove down the left before powerfully delivering a dangerous cross from the by-line, which Mario Gila was able to deal with.
What would be a real turning point in the match came in the 21st minute: Dusan Vlahovic spotted Pierre Kalulu running in behind and played him through, Alessio Romagnoli brought him down when desperately trying to stop him on the edge of the area. Initially the referee ajudged the intervention to be a fair challenge, but then he was asked refer to VAR monitor and subsequently awarded a free kick to Juve (from which Vlahovic skimmed the crossbar) and showed a red card to the Lazio defender.
With ten men left, the away side sat deep and defended compactly and Juve struggled to find space, even more so than when both sides were playing with eleven men.
The positive was that Juve began to play a lot higher, practically remaining camped in the opponent’s half. In the 40th minute, a good cross from Manuel Locatelli found Vlahovic, who tried to shoot from inside the area, but he was unable to find the target. A minute later Andrea Cambiaso, tonight's captain, drifted out to the left before floating a cross into the middle where Federico Gatti tried to volley home but was unable to break the deadlock.
It was the last chance of a first half that ended without any other notable events.
SECOND HALF, JUVE PUSH FORWARD
At the start of the second half Juve upped the intensity and came close, very close, to scoring on two occasions. In the 57th minute, Vlahovic latched onto a loose ball after Thuram’s initial effort and fired towards goal, rattling the crossbar. Two minutes later Douglas Luiz timed his run perfectly to meet Timothy Weah’s cross, but his header went just wide.
In the second half, which saw Vasilije Adzic make his debut for the Bianconeri in the 72nd minute, Juve continued to keep the ball and tried to find a way around the opposition defence, they remained patient and did not opt to go very direct, but still were unable to create a clear opening.
Nicolo Fagioli’s effort tested Ivan Provedel in the 84th minute, but the keeper was on hand to deny him. A minute later came the decisive moment of the match, which finally fell in our favour: Juan Cabal drilled a cross in from the left, Gila beat his own goalkeeper to the ball before inadvertently diverting the ball into his own net.
It would prove to be the match-winning goal.
Juve tried to seal the victory through Adzic from outside the penalty area shortly afterwards, but Provedel again got a hand to it.
No harm done: an important three points to start this intense schedule of matches in the best possible way, remain compeitive in the league table and have a positive mindset going into the encounter with Stuttgart on Tuesday.
JUVENTUS 1-0 LAZIO
Allianz Stadium, Saturday 19 October, 2024 at 20:45 (CEST)
Goals: 85’ Gila (OG) (J)
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Cabal, Kalulu, Gatti (73’ Danilo), Savona (54’ Weah), Thuram (72’ Adzic), Locatelli (54’ Fagioli), Douglas Luiz, Cambiaso, Vlahovic, Yildiz.
Unused Substitutes: Perin, Pinsoglio, Rouhi, Mbangula.
Coach: Thiago Motta.
Lazio: Provedel, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares (78’ Pellegrini), Rovella, Guendouzi (67’ Vecino), Zaccagni (67’ Castrovillii), Dia (27’ Patric), Isaksen (67’ Pedro), Castellanos.
Unused Substitutes: Gigot, Dele-Bashiru, Noslin, Tchaouna, Mandas, Furlanetto.
Coach: Marco Baroni.
Referee: Juan Sacchi
Assistants: Daniele Bindoni, Alberto Tegoni
Fourth Official: Paride Tremolada
Bookings: 45+2 Locatelli (J), 50’ Savona (J), 60’ Fagioli (J), 90’ Douglas Luiz (J), 90+4 Vecino (L), 90+5 Pedro (L)
Sent Off: 24’ Romagnoli (L)
Next Match:
Juventus-VfB Stuttgart
UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday three
Tuesday, 22 October, 2024 at 21:00 (CEST)
Allianz Stadium
